Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1917 — Fixing of Food Prices. [ARTICLE]

Fixing of Food Prices.

> Washington, D. C., April 27. —'The secretary of agriculture, in response to a telegram regarding the fixing of prices of food products, made the following reply: MN<o agency now has power to fix prices of food products. Have suggested that congress confer power on the government to fix minimum and maximum prices if the emergency requires them. The object of a minimum prritee to producers would be to stimulate production of certain staple products by assuring farmers that these prodiicts would not .be disposed of below a certain level which would give them a reasonable return and would riot cause them to suffer loss in any event. This would have to he done under proper regulation. The shortage of important c:ops in this nation, the greatly depleted resources i bread, and the waste and destruction in Europe should cause a continuance of remuneartive prices, but as an additianal assurance to farmers the power indicated ought to be vested in the government. It is not suggested that maximum prices be fixed to producers, but that power to fix such prices governing the distribution of products be given to the government- to be used if necessary-to control uneconomic speculation and manipulation in the handling of food products. It is of the first importance that po stop be omitted greatly to increase the supply especially of the great staple food products of the United States in every direction.”